Method of producing sealed wrapped packages



W. A. WEIGHTMAN AND C. H. NITSCH..

METHOD OF PRODUCING SEALED WRAPPED'PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1917.

Patented Sept. 7,1920.

wvewtow Wzi/Zz'am fl Way/Jinan in predetermined cycles to produce UNITED STATES Par-ear orrics.

WILZIAM A. WEIGHT-MAIN AZN'D CHARLES H. "NITSCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, EENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS 'IO STOKES & SMITH COMPANY, OF SUMMERDALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CQRLOB;A'JEION OF PENNSYLVANIA, I

I METHOD. OF PRODUCING SEALED WRAPPED PACKAGES.

Application filed June 29,

.To all whom may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. WEIGHT. MAN and CHARLES H. Nrrscii, both citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Sealed Wrapped Packages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of producing sealed wrapped packages, and per tains more particularly to the method .by which packets may be wrapped with an adhesively-coated wrapper to inclose the packet and produce a sealed wrapped efi'ect.

Sealed wrapped packages are of two general types, one in which the wrapper is loose on the packet-the adhesive connection being between component parts of the wrapper-the other type having adhesive connection between the wrapper and packet as well as between the component parts of the wrapper. The present invention pertains more particularly to the latter type, this type having the advantage'of tightly fitting the 1 packet and remaining on the packet even after the package has been opened to gain access to the packet contents.

The wrapper employed in this type is generally in the form of a blank having its body portion made up of connected sections substantially corresponding to the contour and area of the packet walls which each 15 to cover together with a marginal top lap, the sections having end wings or laps which are applied at the ends of the packet, the wings or laps substantiall covering the packet ends. One surface 0 the blank is adhesively coated after which the adhesive surface is applied "to the walls and ends of thegacket, this operation being generally provi ed by covering apparatus formed of a plurality of covering instrumentalities which operate wrapped efiect.

As will be understood,- the formation of a commercial package of this type involves an accurate registration of the packet and blank in order that the covering operations may bring the sections, etc, in proper position on the walls and ends of thepacket To provide this accurate registration is more or less of a problem due to the length of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. *7, 1920.

1917. Serial No. 177,832.

the blank and to the fact that, after receiving itsadhesive coating, the coated blank must be properly positioned in order that the packet may be brought into registration contact therewith. This problem is made more difficult where it is desired to provide a more or less automatic operation, since the conditions are such that the point of adhesive application. is generally spaced from the point where the blank must be positioned at the commencement of the covering operations, thus complicating the problem by the necessity for transferring the adhesivelycoated blank from the adhesive-applying mechanism to the covering instrumentalities, To transfer the lengthy thin and flexible blank with its adhesive coating and accurately deliver it in position to receive the acket becomes a serious problem, since'the lank must be drawn in the direction of its length and while coated, tending to limit the speed of travel of the blank and thus increase the time required to transfer it, this latter in turn tending to increase the inherent curling eii'ect produced by the setting of the adhesive. Manual transporting and positioning is more or less difficult due to the necessity for handling a thin flexible wrapper of considerable length and other dimensions when one face of the blank is entirely covered with the adhesive.

The present invention is designed more particularly to overcome these difliculties by supporting the blank during the adhesiveapplying operation, and while so supported bringing the packet and blank into registration contact, thus assembling the packet and coated blank by applying a face of the packet to the complement-a1 portion of the adhesive surface of the blank, thus providing an extended connection between the two parts and producing an assembly such as will enable the packet to serve as the means for drawing the coated blank during the transfer of the latter from the point of adhesive application to the covering instrumentalities. As a r'esult,.the movement of the assembly can be provided by bodily moving the packet, permitting the latter to be gripped or otherwise manipulated by the operator or the transfer mechanism and advancedvvith greater speed without damage to the packet and without affecting the more or less trailing portion of the blank. Hence the transfer can be had in reduced time and thus tend to-decrease the curling effect.

In addition, simpler. mechanism may be employed in the transfer mechanism, and at the same time the position of the assembly in the covering instrumentalities can be controlled bythe position of the packet, a feature which greatly simplifies the ositioning mechanism and decreases the di culties at this point.

An additional material feature in these results is the fact that the point where registration contact is had is at a point removed from the point of positioning in the covering apparatus, thus eliminating the necessity of producing registration of the elements directly within the covering apparatus, the assembly, on the contrary, taking place at a point readily inspected and not complicated by the presence of other mechanisms.

In addition, one face of the packet is practically covered at or prior to the time when the blank begins its real transfer. movement and before the assembly reaches the covering instrumentalities.

The present invention is also designed to permit of substantially automatic operation by mechanical means, thus tending to reduce the cost of-manufacture and tending to increase the capacity of the apparatus.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved methods hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the'views:

Figure l is a view, diagrammatic in character, illustrating one way in which the present invention may be carried out.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the manher of assembling the packet and blank. 7

Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the form in which the assembly is transferred to and positioned in the covering apparatus.

. Figs. 4: to 9 inclusive illustrate the results produced on the assembly by the operation of the successive covering instrumentalities of the covering apparatus, 9 showing the completed ackage.

As shown in 9, the wrapper incloses each of the longitudinal walls of the packet and has four wings or laps for each end of the packet, these wings or laps, as shown in Fig. 3, being preferably, although not necessarily of two lengths, the wings laps of shorter length overlying the or laps of'longer length, e severe. laps completely covering an end i one packet with a cient amount overlap to provide proper adhesive connection the opposing ralitv of integra ly-connected sections indicate at a, b, c and d, together with a marginal lap portion e, the sectmnssubstantially corresponding to the contour and area of,

the longitudinal faces of the: packet. If desired, the blank may. be scored between the sections to facilitate folding, although this is not essential. As will be seen,ieach of the sections is provided with end wings or laps, the wings or laps of the sections a and c, in-

dicatedat a and 0 respectively, being of greater length than the wings or laps 'of the sections 6 and d, the end laps of the latter being indicated at b .and 01' respectively. I

In producing the package the wrapper is preferably adhesively-coatedthroughout one surface so as to provide for .an adherent connection of each part of the wrapper either to a face of the packet or to a component portion of the blank, the result being that the wrapper tightly fits on the packet and at the same time is not affected by any manipulations for opening the latter.

As is well-known, packets are of various forms and vary as to the manner in which the packets are opened to gain access to the contents, and no attempt is made to indicate any. particular type of packet container, it being readily understood that the invention is applicable for use with any of such forms. For similar reasons, no particular means are disclosed herein for indicating the point where the positioned wrapper Wshould be mutilated to gain access to the point where the packet is to be opened, it being understood that the blank, which generally has its non-coated surface arranged in label form,"

will have proper" indications to. meet the conditions of the individual packet being wrapped.

As heretofore pointed 'out, the present invention is designed more particularly to facilitate the application of the wrapper to the packet and eliminate, as far as possible, the difiiculties which result by reason of the necessity for use of a wrapper blank of considerable length and particular config uration and especially where the blank is formed from thin and flexible stock, this fact together with the necessity forhan dling a packet of considerable size and, in many cases of several pounds weight,.produces a more or less serious problem or prob: lems, some of the dilllcnltiesof which have heretofore been pointed out and among which is transfer of the blanlr'froni its adhesivereceiving position to position with in the covering instrnrnentalities, and the that a face of the packet is brought into registration contact with the complemental portion of the wrapper blank.

These difliculties are more or less present whether the operation is to be manual or mechanical. Where produced manually, the length of time required to complete the cycle is necessarily increased by reason of the care required to produce the result, thus more or less limiting the capacity of the covering apparatus, tending to increase the cost of manufacture. Where the operations are produced mechanically, the characteristics of the several elements form material factors in determining the ability to provide complete mechanical operation.

As heretofore pointed out, the invention is designed'more particularly to meet these difficulties, and is particularly applicable for use in connection with automatic apparatus by means of which the packets and blanks may be introduced in quantities by the use of magazines or other form of device, the packets and blanks being individually introduced into whatmay be termed a travel path or paths, after which the operation is automatically continued until the complete package is delivered.

For the purpose of disclosing the present invention we have shown it as employed as a part of an automatic apparatus embody-.

ing feeding, adhesive-applying, transfer, and covering instrumentalities, the operations of which are correlated to produce a cycle of operations on the packet and blank. in such cycle, the blanks are successivel removed from the blank magazine, positioned on a rotating blank supporting platen, and, while so supported, each blank is brought into the field of operation of an adhesive-applying mechanism which applies adhesive throughout the exposed .face 01 the blank. The platen carries the blank to a point where it an advancing packet, a face of .he latter passing into contact with the adhesive surface of the blank before the latter has vancing tr.

' and the platen rotating .30 operate in such men- .ct between the opposing packet and wrapper will be 'he face properly regthe compiemental portion of The specific mechanisms for s timing relation, and the opctions for producing this reremaining covering operations eciiically disclosed or claimed they form the subjects-matter ion 'cation covering the atus. may be noted, how- 1Q speed platen speed travel of the packet, :vement between blank of travel of the blank is preferably synchroleft the platen, the means for ad and packet will be prevented after contact therebetween has taken place.

The travel of the packet is not stopped during the period when assembly of these elements takes place, and since an entire face of the packet is adherently connected to the blank at this time, the extended connection thus provided will form an exceedingly efiicient means for withdrawing the blank from the platen and for advancin it durin the advance movement of the pac et.

Inig. 1, the blank supply or magazine is indicated at 15. The blank feed mechanism is shown as in the form of a suction device 16 adapted to deliver a blank between rolls 17, the latter advancin the blank to a point where grippers 18 oi the platen 19 may grip the advance end of the blank. The

rotation of the platen carries the blank past the adhesive-applying mechanism, indicated generally at G, and which may be of any desired type, that shown in the drawings including a pair of adhesive-applying rollers 20 which combinedly provide the coating to the blank.

. The packet supply or magazine is indicated at 21, the lower packet preferably rest+ ing on a table 22, the magazine being so arranged that the lower packet is locatedin the path of travel of packet advancing mechanism and is free to be moved out of its position in the magazine by such mechanism, the remainder of the packets in the magazine being restrained from such advance movement and being free to locate the succeeding packet in proper position for the advance. I

The packet-advancing and assemblytransfer mechanism, indicated generally at T, is shown as in the form of a pair of end less chains 23 located on opposite sides of the travel path of the packet, each chain being mounted on a pair of sprocket wheels 24: and 24 which form the opposite ends of the chain flights. Each chain carries a plurality of fingers 25 projecting outwardl of the flights, and hence projecting into the space between the opposite chains during travel in the length oi the inner flight. Each finger is of suitable configuration so as to contact with and positively advance the packet to a predetermined point and releasethe packet when the latter is positioned at such point. A simple form of structure for this purpose is shown in Fig. 2 as a rigid member 25 projecting inwardly from the inner flight of each chain and carrying a yieldable member 45", member 255 having a projecting length such that during th advancing travel of the chain in a straight line, the members 25 of the opposite flights oppose each other and will contact with the rear face of the packet. VJhen, however, the chains have advanced the fingers to a point where the chains begin to move out of such straight line in rounding the sprocket wheels 24:, the

rigid members 25 will be withdrawn, leaving the ieldable members 25 as the sole elements or continuing the advance. When the advance face of the packet is brought into contact with the stop or stops 26, the advancing movement of the packet will be stopped, members 25 yielding and passing by the ends of the packet, leaving the latter in its stopped position.

As will be seen, the packet, duringthis travel, passes a gap in table 22, laten 19 extending into this gap. When, t erefore, the advancing packet passes this point, platen 19 becomes the support for both blank and packet, the registration assembly taking place while the support is provided by the platen.

If desired, a suitable pressure device 27 may be employed for pressing the packet on to the blank during the assembling operation.

It will be seen, therefore, that the advance of the assembly is had without appl ing an strains to the blank, the contact 0 the a vancing mechanism with the assembly bein substantially confined to the packet itsel the container of which is, of course, of heavier stock and therefore better adapted to withstand any effect which the advancing mechanism may have thereon.

Fig. 3 discloses the assembly, a face of the packet being adherently secured to the adhesive surface of section a, the marginal lap portion e of small projection, being in advance of the packet, sections 1), 0, and d being unattached to and extending in rear of the packet. The major portion of the blank thus trails behind the packet, the latter drawing this portion as the packet advances. Since the adherent connection is comparatively large, and the trailing portion of. the blank is trailing free, it will be understood that the advance movement of the assembly can be made with more or less rapidity, thus tending to reduce the length of time requiredto transfer the blank from its assembly position to the point where further advance movement of the packet is prevented by stop mechanism 26. This decrease in length of time required tends to decrease the curling action.

Stop mechanism 26 is so arranged that when the packet advance movement is stopped, the assembly Will be properly positioned at the entrance to the covering in strumentalities, the latter including a yieldable dev ce 27 which forms a support for the packet when the assembly is thus positioned.

The proper positioning of -the assembly places the packet in proper alinement with a plunger 28 which is operative to advance the assembly into the first covering instrumentality which acts to apply the marginal lap e and section Z) to opposite faces of the form shown in lilig.

the packet, and end wings or laps a to the ends of the packet, producing the result shown in Fig. 4.

As will be seen, the blank of the assembly is positioned on the opposite face of the packet from that with which plunger 28 contacts, so that the blank is interposed between the packet, and the covering or blankmanipulatlng mechanism.

It may be noted that any desired type of covering mechanism may be employed'in providing the covering operations, the drawings showing diagrammaticall one form which .may be employed. ile'we describe the successive operations ,as being performed by the mechanisms shown in the drawings, it is to be understood, of'course, that this is simply illustrative and may vary according to the particular 'ty e of mechanism which ma be employe The covering mstrumentalities shown for producing this application of lap e and face 22 just described are shown as wiping brushes 29 and rolls 30, the end wings a, being folded up by the action of the supporting device 27 when yielding during the movement of the assembly.-

After this initial action is had and'by the continued movement of the assemblyunder the action of plunger 28, the assembly, in the form shown in Fig. 4, is positioned in a rotatingelement 31, indicated as in the form of a turretv preferably having two pairs of assembly-receiving structures, each pair being alined on a diameter of the turret with the pairs extending in directions at right angles to each other. Each structure is shown as in the form of opposing yieldable plates 32 between which the assembly is positioned and held during movements of the turret.

Each pair of structures is provided with a reciprocating member 33 having its opposite ends formed with heads 33*, each head operating in one of the structures, the length of each member being such that when the face of one head 33 is in contact with a positioned packet, the face of the opposite head will be approximately at the entrance to its structure. The turret arrangement is such that the head 33 which is in the path of travel of the entering assembly, is normally positioned at the outer end of the structure which is to receive the assembly. Consequently when the assembly advances under the action of plunger 28, it contacts with head 33 and moves member toward its opposite extreme of movement, this head thus forming a face on which the assembly. rests while positioned, the opposite head serving to deliver a previous assembly, as presently described.

As heretofore pointed out, the assembly, when first positioned in the turret, is in The turret is then rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 through an angular distance of 90 this movementbringing the assembly into operative relation with a rotatable wip- 5 ing brush 34L- which acts to apply section 0 to the face of the packet opposite that to which section a was initially applied, producing the result shown in Fig. 5, the assembly being in the form shown in this figure, when the turret comes to rest after this initial movement which places the succeeding structure in position to receive the succeeding assembly.

While the turret is in this position, a pair of Wiping rollers 35 aremade active to apply end wings or laps c to theends of the packet, producin the results shown in Fig. 6, thus placing t e longer wings or laps in. position at the ends of the packet with the wings a and 0 overlapping each other as shown in this view.

The succeeding quarter revolution of the turret .places the assembly opposite its point of entrance into the turret, and the mechanism is so arranged that during the travel to this point, the ends of the assembly are subjected to the operation of wiping brushes 37 which act to apply end wings or laps b to the ends of the assembly, thus producing the result shown in Fig. 7, the turret coming to rest with the assembly in the form shown in this view.

This is the position of the assembly shown at the bottom of the turret in Fig; 1, and it will be understood that when the plunger 28 acts to introduce an assembly into the top structure of the turret of Fig. 1, the, lower head 33 of member 33 will pushthis lower assembly out of the turret and into 0 erative ment acting to apply the last section-section d-to the remaining face of the package and in overlying relation tothe initially applied marginal lap o producing the result I shown in Fig, 8 and completing the packaging with the exception of end wings or laps .113, these being positioned by the action of wiping rollers 39 which are preferably made active when the assembly has come to rest between the brushes 38. Rotation of the turret then brings the succeeding assembly into position to be discharged from'the turret, the discharge action moving the previously discharged packet into a lower position between these brushes or between succeeding brushes and into operative relation to the wiping brushes 40 operative to wipe the folded end wings or laps, and completing the packaging operation, the delivery of the succeeding assembly moving the completed packa e out of the covering instrumentalities. f desired, this delivery may be made on a suitable carrier 41 located therebelow which will act to car the deliv- 65 ered package out of the path of t e package relation with wiping brushes 38, this move;

to reserve the right to protect against such which will be delivered at the succeeding operation of the turret-carried mechanism, the package thus delivered being shown in is will be seen from Fig. 2, the direction of movement of the packet and the cover blank are such that the contact between the faces of these elements when the 'assembl is being produced is progressively rearwar As will be understood from Fig. 3, the assembly is made with the advance face of the article spacedfrom and in rear of the advance edge of the blank, this spacing being equal to the width of la portion 6. Consequently, a predetermine portion ,of the blank must be advanced beyond'the point where the article and, blank are brou ht into actual contact. Since the article an blank support are advancing at synchronous speeds and the position of the blank on the support is suchas to insure the continued movement of the blank at the support speed and in a predetermined path after the gripping action has been released, it will be clear that assurance will be had of proper registration of article and blank without liabilit of disturbing the adhesive connection 0 the assembly. In addition, the adhesive connection will not, be disturbed b movements of the assembly, since the a vancing movements of the assembly formation are'simply continuations of the movements of the two elements prior to and during assembly.

The disclosure herein is more or less diagrammatic one form of apparatus for utilizing the methods disclosed herein being shown in our com anion application filed Jul as, 1917, Ser. 0. 183,212.

ile we have shown one way in which the invention may be carried out, it will be 105 readily understood that the principles of the invention may be utilized in other ways and through other forms of mechanism than those suggested herein, the selection of a specific embodiment being determined more particularly by the exigencies of use or the particular wishes of the user, and we desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or essential, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the, invention as exressed in the accompanying claims when roadly construed.

And it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the particular use referred to herein, since it may be employed in various relations, and it is desired use. 4

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, is

1. The method of covering a packet with an adhesively coated wrapper blank having a body portion formed of integrally con- 13o nected sections substantially corresponding to the several longitudinal faces. of packet and also having marginal extensions adapted to cover the lateral faces of the packet, which consists in assembling the blank and packet with a longitudinal face of the packet in contact with an adhesively coated corresponding section of the blank adjacent one end or? the blank and during continuous travel of both blank and packet, and thereafter applying the remaining sec tions of the blank successively to the longitudinal faces oi the packet and the marginal laps successively to the lateral faces of the pocket 2. lin the art of adherently applyinga wrapper blank to an article, the method of assembling a thin and flexible blank adapted to cover a plurality of faces of the articles, which consists in continuously moving the article along a predetermined path, continuously supporting said article during its movement in said path, and inserting said blank between the article and its support during travel with a face of the article in contact with-an adhesively coated portion of the blank and with said blank extending in the direction of article travel beyond said face of the article along" said support,

In the art of applying a cover blank to an article, the method of applying a wrapper blank to a plurality of longitudinal faces of the article which includes supporting the article during its continuous travel along a fixed path on a plurality 01 supports, positioning; the cover blank on one oisaid supports, applying adhesive to said blank while on said support, and bringing said blank into engagement with said article while both blank and article are supported by said support 4:. In the art of producing sealed wrapped packages, the method of assembling the packet and cover blank, during travel thereof, which consists in positioning the cover blank on a support and adhesively coating a surface thereof, and while so supported, bringing a face of the packet into registration contact with the complemental portion of the adhesive surface 01 the blank to produce the assembly, whereby the major por-- tion of the blank is free from adhesive connection with the packet in the direction of packet travel, and thereafter applying the unattached portions of the blank adhesively to the remaining faces of the packet.

5. In the art of producing sealed wrapped packages, the method of assembling the packet and cover blank, which consists in supporting the cover blank during adhe- Siva-application and moving the support to advance the cover blank with its adhesive surface uppermost, and advancing the packet into contact with the advancing blank and with a face of the packet in registhe assembly during the advancing move-- ments, and with the blank support serving to support both blank and packet during assenibl 3. lii the artof adherently applying a cover oriwrapper blank to an article to be coveredor wrapped, the method of assembling the article and blank which consists in coating a surface oi the blank while the latter is supported, and assembling the article and coated blank with both supported by the blank support by progressively ap' plying a face of the article to the compleinental portion o1 the adhesive surface of the blank and thereby producing registration of blank and article 7. in the art t adberently applying a cover or wrapper blank to an article to be covered or wrapped, the method of assembling the article and blank which consists in advancing the article and a supported adhesively-coated blank concurrently relative to a registration position, and progres sively appl ing a face of the article the complemental por ion of the adhesive surface of the blank during such advance movement, the blank support serving to support both blank and article during the applying operation.

8; in the art oi producing scaled wrapped packages, the method of positioning the covering blank in the covering apparatuswhich'consists in advancing the packet and a supported adhesively-coated blank concurrently and bringing them into registration contact with both blank and packet sup ported by the blank support to produce an assembly wherein the packet will serve as a carrier for the blank, and positioning the blank in the covering apparatus by Controlling the position of the packet therein.

9. In the art of producing sealed wrapped packages, the method of positioning the covering blank in the covering apparatus which consists in advancing the packet and a supported adhesively coated blank concurrently and bringing them into registration contact with both blank and packet supportedby the blank support during such advance movement to produce an'assembly wherein the packet will serve as a carrier for the blank, and positioning the blank in the covering apparatus by controlling the position of the packet therein.

10. In the art of producing sealed wrapped packages, the method of positioning the covering blank in the covering apparatus which consists in advancing the packet and a supported adhesively coated blank concurrently and bringing them into registration contact with both blank and packet supported by the blank support prior to the completion of such advance movements to produce an assembly wherein the packet will. serve as a carrier for the blank, and positioning the blank in the covering apparatus by completing the advancing movements of the assembled elements and by controlling the position of the packet in the covering apparatus,

11. In the art of adherently applying a cover blank to a packet to produce a sealed wrapped package and wherein the blank has a length to form a marginal. lap and a succession of integrallywonnected sections corresponding in area and contour to the several longitudinal faces of the packet, the method of assembling the adhesive-coated cover blank and paclret which consists in advancing the blank and packet individually and concurrently with the marginal. lap portion of the blank in advance, and bringing a face of the packet into registration contact with the section of the blank in rear of said lap during such advance movements to assemble the blank and packet for combined advance movement with a substantial portion of the blank extending beyond the rear edge of said face of the packet.

12. In the art of producing sealed wrap ed packages wherein the cover blank is ad esively coated on one surface and has a length to include a succession of integrallyconnected sections corresponding in area I and contour to the longitudinal faces the I packet with each section carrying end wings or laps, the method adherently-applying, the blank to the packet which consists in applying the adhesivecoated surface of. the sections and end wings to the packet by applying the succession of sections to the packet faces in regular progression in the direction of length of the blank and applying the section end wings successively to the Jacket ends in an. irregw lar progression witi the wings of a section applied substantially concurrently.

13. In theart of adherently applying a cover or wrapper blank to a plurality of longitudinalexterior Walls of an article to be covered or wrapped, the method of producing an assembly of wrapper and article which consists in concurrently and individually advancing the article and an adhesively-coated blank in non-parallel paths to a predetermined point. to produce initial assembly at the advance end of the article, and progressively completing the assembly by the concurrent advance of both blank and article relative to'such point with said blank extending beyond the article in the direction of advance after said initial assembly is com leted.

14. n theiart of adherently applying e. cover or wrapper blank to each of a pluralit of longitudinal exterior walls of an artic e to be covered or wrapped, and where in the article and blankare advanced from individual supplies in predetermined travel paths to covering or wrapping station mechanism and are adherently assembled during travel. within such paths to provide concurrent travel oi the article and blank as an assembly with said mechanism operative to shift the assembly transversely cit such path, the method of producing and delivering an assembly which consists in concurrently and individually advancing the article and an adhesively coated blank in non parallel paths to a predetermined point with said blank extending beyond the article in the direction of advance after said initial assembly is completed in advance of such station to produce initial assembly at the advance end of the article, progressively completing assembly by the concurrent advance of both blank and article relative to such point and containing the advancing movement 0 the assembly to present the latter to said mechanism with the blank interposed be: tween the article and the blank-manipulating mechanism.

15. in the art. of adherently applying a cover or wrapper blank to the exterior walls of an article to be covered or wrapped, and wherein. the article and blank are advanced from individual supplies in predetermined travel paths to covering or wrapping station mechanism and are adherently assembled during travel within such paths to provide concurrent travel. of the article and blank as an assembly to such station with said mechanism operative to shift the assembly transversely of such path, the method of producing an assembly which consists in concurrently and individually advancinfi the article and an adhesively-coated blan on individual supports to a predetermined point in advance of such station, adhesively coating a surface of the blank during travel to such point, and progressively completing the assembly by concurrent advance of both the article and the blank relative to such point with the blank support active to support both blank and article during such'a sembling.

16. In the art of adherently applying a cover or wrapper blank to an article to be covered or wrapped, wherein the blank has an areato extend on to the sides and ends of the article adjacent the assembly {face of the article and wherein the blank has one of its surfaces adhesively coated, the method of assembling the blanln and article preliminary to completing the blank application, which consists in temporarily locating the blank on an advancing support to provide an advancing movement of the blank in a predetermined path, and bringing the article into registration contact with the advancing blank while the latter is maintained in such path.

17. In the art of adherently applying a cover or wrapper blank to an article to be covered or wrapped, wherein the blank has an area to extend on to the sides and ends of the article adjacent the assembly face of the article and wherein the blank has one of its surfaces adhesively coated, the method of assemblingthe blank and article preliminary to completing the blank application, which consists in temporarily locating the blank on a support and bringing the article and blank into predetermined registration contact to produce the assembly by synchronous advancing movements of both article and blank, and maintaining such support while producing the assembly.

18. In the art of adherently applying a cover or wrapper blank to an article to be covered or wrapped, wherein the blank has an area to extend on to the sides and ends of the article adjacent the assembly face of incense the article and wherein the blank has one of its surfaces adhesively coated, the method of assembling the blank and article preliniinary to completing the blank application, which consists in temporarily locating the blank on a support and bringing the article and blank into predetermined registration contact to produce the assembly by synchronously advancing the article and blank support to maintain the advancing movement of the blank in a path to produce the predetermined registration.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WEIGHTMAN. CHARLES H. NITS CH.

Witnesses:

CARL E. SoHAnrrER, SILAS E. CHILD. 

